When I woke up my arm was around nothing and I was alone. It was ten in the morning, by my standards a reasonable time to wake up, but it seemed that Rafa had already gone. I sighed as I realised that that was how it was always going to be when being with Rafael Nadal. He dedicated his whole life to tennis and only in the off seasons and short holidays which he allowed himself would we be able to do any thing romantic. It was tough. I pulled myself out of bed, instinctively crossing my arms over my boobs as if there was someone watching. I put on the Rafa's dressing gown in case a room service man saw fit to come along or something. I noticed that there was a note left on the table which I read aloud.

Sophie,

Gotta go and do some more practice on the grass. My match will be at about two so please meet me back here at twelve thirty. We'll have lunch and I'll introduce you to my family and team. There are spare seats in my player box for the match if you want to watch.

Sorry about getting up so early

Rafa x

I felt a little scared about meeting his family not wanting to be judged. But if they were as nice as Rafa said they were I was sure that we'd get on all right. I probably would sit in his player box for the match because it would be a unique experience but of course it also depended on how well I got to know the family and team seeing as I'd be surrounded by them. I had a few things to do before twelve thirty. I seriously needed to get some more casual clothes, some night clothes and definitely more underwear. Also I wanted to start looking into getting a job and a house back in England.

I chucked off the few clothes that I was wearing and jumped into the shower.. I washed my self over, woke myself up, shampooed, put on a nice smelling body gel and jumped out again. I wore a T shirt and the skirt which I'd worn to tennis yesterday before going out and locking the door behind me.

First I went to the nearest bank and withdrew one hundred Euros. I wouldn't be buying anything expensive today. I had to admit that I was a little bit excited as I went to the clothes store. Clothes stores always excited me because I loved looking nice. Trying to stop myself from going to the posh clothing area I went to get a pack of simple tank tops and T-shirts in a few colours. I just needed some clothes which I could wear casually seeing as I already had two beautiful formal dresses. Next I bought a few bras, my size was 34c! I also got some skirts, leggings and a cheap but quite nice looking cream coloured dress. I paid, received my change and left with the bag stuffed full of clothing. I was on my way home when I saw a computer store. I didn't have a computer or a laptop and there wasn't one at the hotel. I would need one for the job I had in mind. I went into the shop looking for a cheap laptop to fulfil my purposes. I still don't know about I came out with a MacBook Pro costing over one thousand Euros. With excitement filling me right to the brim I ran back to the hotel wanting to get my laptop out.

As soon as the laptop was up and running I went to the British Foreign Office Site. I had always rather wanted to work there and I had a brilliant plan. I went to the contact us section and emailed them.

Hello, my name is Miss Sophie Richardson and I am 22. I would like to apply for entry to the Civil Service Fast Stream. I meet all of the nationality requirements and I have eleven A* GCSEs and 4 As at AS level. I recently graduated from university with a first in Spanish. I am knowledgeable in economics, finance and procurement.

Thank you for your time,

Miss Sophie Richardson.

I was surprised to receive an email back within minutes.

To Miss Sophie Richardson,

If what you say is true then I believe that you may be a good candidate for the Civil Service Fast Stream. We invite you to an interview for us to assess your knowledge on Monday the eighteenth of this month at eleven AM. Please be aware that if you are accepted into the fast stream you will have to pass through two years in White Hall and then a test. Also you may not be posted to exactly where you request depending on how much we think you would be suited to a specific place or job.

We look forward to seeing you on Monday,

Amelia Myers

Head of Application.

I jumped with joy and immediately went onto last to book flights back to London. The nearest flight that I could find was a late night flight tomorrow. I was unwilling to book it seeing as that would take me away from Rafa early and I would be in London for ages by myself. However, I was sure that the job would be worth it as the salary was good, about 25 thousand pounds a year. That would pay off my debts in less than a year. I also started to look at flats.

At twelve thirty on the dot Rafa was back as he'd promised. I lay on the bed still comparing flat prices. If I was going to be there for two years it was going to have to be nice and I if I understood correctly the Foreign Offices Bonuses might pay for the flat.

"Where did you find that laptop?" Rafa asked "It looks awfully expensive."

"I bought it in town," I explained "I needed to start looking up jobs and stuff. Come here, I've got some great news."

"Go on then?" Rafa beckoned coming closer to me.

"I've found a possible job in London." I explained "In the foreign office. They emailed me to say that they're giving me an interview on Monday."

"That's great!" Rafa smiled "But won't you have to work in London?"

"Only for two years. Then I'll request to be posted to the Palma de Mallorca British embassy so I'll be able to see you all the time." I smiled back.

"Two years?" Rafa gasped "We only got together yesterday and already you're thinking of leaving!"

"I'm not leaving you," I replied "We can carry on long term can't we? And I need this job, in a year I'll have my debts paid back."

"It will be difficult for us both to keep up the relationship if we're not even seeing each other." Rafa argued "And you can get a job on Mallorca straight away. There are good jobs there."

"I'm not ready to live in Spain yet." I shook my head "I don't want to have to make my second language my first language. And I have friends to see in England. Anyway, how can I get a job in Mallorca and travel around the world with you?"

"You wouldn't have to travel around the world with me. You could stay in Mallorca and do your job." Rafa said "Please don't do this to me!"

"The result is the same Rafa," I said sadly "If I stay in Mallorca I don't see you because you're always on tour. If I go to London I don't see you because you're always on tour."

"How long until you go?" Rafa asked "We should make the most of the time that we have."

"You're got gonna like this," I said sadly "Tomorrow evening."

"Tomorrow evening?" Rafa cried out "This just gets worse and worse. I can't believe what I'm hearing. Two years of seeing you only at Wimbledon and the end of year finals. Please rethink this."

"Look Rafa," I said sadly "Everything that you say applies to me as well. I will miss you just as much as you will miss me. But I have my heart set on this career and we are supposed to go in opposite directions as this point but then our paths will meet again and this time they will not separate. I will be able to support myself by then. I'll be twenty four and you'll be twenty eight. Maybe you'll be reaching the end of your career and we'll be able to have a baby. But I'm not having a baby while you're still on tour."

"I just have a bad feeling about this." Rafa said "In two years anything could happen. I could find somebody else who I love and the same applies for you but it is likely that one of us will end up heartbroken."

"My mind is made up Rafa." I said "I promise that I will not cheat on you because I would not find a more caring boyfriend anywhere. But you can't stop me from living my life the way I want to live it."

"If that's the way it is," Rafa grumbled sadly "I don't like it and I'm not convinced but I suppose that it's your choice in the end. Come on, let's go and meet the family. Don't wanna keep them waiting. Do you mind if I introduce you as just my friend? I think they'd be sceptical if they found out that you were already leaving us."

"Oh," I said, surprised "If you want."

It was almost as if I could feel our relationship gently slipping through my fingers.

Author's Note

Thank you all for your generous report. I've had no reviews as of yet although I understand that I only recently uploaded this story. However, this is where I need your help. I need you to review and tell me whether you'd rather that Sophie stayed with Rafa and did not go and work in Britain or whether she did. If we choose for her to go to Britain then I will do some chapters on when they're at Wimbledon and then do a few more chapters before we arrive two years later and they're both very different people etcetera etcetera.

Please get in touch, I kinda need some of your preferences before I continue.

Charlie

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